“Black Cowboys: An American Story” will open on January 22 at the African American Museum in Dallas. Featuring more than 50 artifacts, photographs, documents, and film, the exhibit explores the lives and work of the many black men, women, and children (both slave and free) who worked on Texas ranches. Many participated in cattle drives before the Civil War until the early 20th century.
The exhibit is free and open to the public, presented locally by Bank of America. It will run through April 15 at the African American Museum in historic Fair Park. “Black Cowboys” is organized by the Witte Museum, and Oncor is the title sponsor.
Black Cowboys offers information
Revealing stories largely untold, “Black Cowboys” offers insight into the legendary cowboy. It offers a clearer image of the Black West and a more diverse portrait of the American West. Organized into three sections, the exhibition begins with the work performed by the Black cowboys. They herded cattle along the trails from 1865 to the 1890s, and were an integral part of the Texas economy. The exhibition moves forward to explore black ranching families and the ways in which free and enslaved black cowboys developed their own ranches after Emancipation. The third section highlights popular performances by black cowboys in rodeos, music, and film.
“The inspiring stories of these amazingly skilled black cowboys are powerful. These men, and women, persevered and succeeded despite discrimination and overwhelming odds, many of whom succeeded through generations as ranchers and leaders in their field,” said Dr. Harry Robinson, Jr., President and Executive Director of the Dallas African American Museum. “We are grateful to our Texas neighbor, the Witte Museum in San Antonio, for their remarkable work in sharing the lives and impact of the black cowboy in such a beautiful and compelling way, and to Bank of America and all of our generous supporters for helping us . bring this story to light.”
Black cowboys helped tame the west
Visitors will discover how black cowboys tamed and trained horses, tended cattle, and rode the trail with thousands of cattle across the United States. Over time, the role of black cowboys evolved as they used the skills they learned on the ranch and trail to own their own ranches, serve as law enforcement officers, ride in rodeos, become singers, and perform in concerts. films. Today, the lives and legacies of black cowboys have inspired new generations to explore the past through music, film, fashion and design.
“Black cowboys were integral to the growth of the Texas cattle industry immediately after the Civil War,” shared Ron Davis, Ph.D. candidate from the University of Texas, who co-curated the exhibit with Witte Texas history curator Bruce Shackelford. “In fact, one in four cowboys that came up the trails was a black cowboy.”
Hector Bazy Cinema
At the center of the exhibition is a film about Hector Bazy, played by the distinguished actor and playwright Eugene Lee. Born into slavery on a plantation in Grimes County, Texas, in 1851, Bazy wrote an autobiography in 1910 describing the exciting and dangerous work of cowboy life. In the film, Lee uses Bazy’s own words to describe his experiences.
“With the launch of its new exhibition, ‘Black Cowboys: An American Story,’ the Dallas African American Museum highlights the influence and heritage of a unique group of American pioneers. Bank of America has a deep commitment to supporting and sustaining the arts, and our continued title sponsorship of this exhibit as it moves through Texas will help communities learn about an important and largely unknown part of history. of Texas,” said Jennifer Chandler, Bank of America Dallas president.
The African American Museum, Dallas
The museum has planned a series of educational activities to complement the exhibition. A Black Cowboy Cinema will present a series of Black Cowboy films that will be shown in the Museum theater, accompanied by classic concession food (hot dogs, popcorn, etc.). Other activities include a series of panel discussions with current black cowboys and cowgirls (retired and active), a rodeo campout with a mechanical bull and cart pulled, and ranch-style buggy rides through Fair Park. In addition, there will be a special presentation focused on The Buffalo Soldiers.
“Black Cowboys: An American Story” is organized by the Witte Museum in San Antonio and is generously supported by Bank of America, the Ed Rachal Foundation, the John L. Santikos Charitable Endowment of the San Antonio Area Foundation, and HEB . Bank of America is the title sponsor of the Dallas exhibit. Oncor is the lead sponsor and additional support is provided by the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture and the Dallas African American Museum Teen Council.
The African American Museum’s season sponsors are Atmos, Eugene McDermott Foundation, Fair Park First and Spectra Venue Management, Friendship West Baptist Church, Oncor, State Fair of Texas, and the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture. The Dallas African American Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm Free parking is available in nearby lots. For more information on “Black Cowboys: An American History,” visit aamdallas.org or call 214-565-9026.
